The DoE will also select an administrator to coordinate R&D carried out by the consortium, it stated.

Consortium members will also be expected to "contribute funds… and use the research findings to further advance technologies", the DoE added.

A further $2 million will also be allocated to research at the DoE’s national laboratories to support the offshore consortium’s work.

"This work will further DoE’s goal to accelerate the development of offshore wind technologies by supporting fundamental research to reduce the costs of offshore wind energy to successfully compete in regional energy markets," Perry said.

The US faces several specific challenges in initiating offshore wind development, the DoE conceded, including deep water areas — which require floating foundations — predicting how Atlantic hurricanes will affect offshore turbines, and developing a sufficient supply chain.